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Headlight / Parker query

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spectral Casual Dubber

39 posts · joined Feb 2013 ·

#949231
Hello all,

I bought a 63 Beetle (my first VW!) as a project. Its completely disassembled, but mostly complete.

I have a question about the headlights, or more specifically, the parker lights.

The car came with 3 headlights. All stamped on the glass "Made in Germany". 2 are Bosch, the other is Hella.

Now I've done some searching, and it seems most Beetles of my era have the parkers inside the headlight housing... but all 3 of my headlights don't have that. No provision for them at all.

So where does the parker light go on a 63? Or are those headlights off a different model altogether.

I did some searching, but a lot of it seems to be US based info, and they seem to have have sealed beam inserts.

Any help appreciated.

Paul.

ragged Just ask if you need HELP!

478 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#949232
Can you put up a pic of the headlights?
Cheers Dave

spectral Casual Dubber

39 posts · joined Feb 2013 ·

#949233
Sure, here you go :





68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#949236
spectral wrote:Hello all,

I bought a 63 Beetle (my first VW!) as a project. Its completely disassembled, but mostly complete.

I have a question about the headlights, or more specifically, the parker lights.

The car came with 3 headlights. All stamped on the glass "Made in Germany". 2 are Bosch, the other is Hella.

Now I've done some searching, and it seems most Beetles of my era have the parkers inside the headlight housing... but all 3 of my headlights don't have that. No provision for them at all.

So where does the parker light go on a 63? Or are those headlights off a different model altogether.

I did some searching, but a lot of it seems to be US based info, and they seem to have have sealed beam inserts.

Any help appreciated.

Paul.
Hi Paul,
Yes to be legal all cars in the USA had to have sealed beams
from around the 2nd world war...
I know the Golfs/Rabbits over there in the late 70s had sealed beams as the European lights were still illegal..

back to Your lights...

there should be [will be] sitting under the large bakelite piece that holds the headlamp bulb in place.. a piece of copper strip that sits on the end of the parking lamp bulb...

so if You unscrew that bakeliite piece..
The headlamp bulb can be pulled from the headlamp reflector plus under it should also be a very small park light bulb sitting in the reflector too...


cheers

Lee


There were different headlamp bulbs used and the bakelite piece may be slightly different on some cars..
but You should have two the same for Your car.. maybe not?

If the park lamp bulb is missing there will be a small round hole roughly under the headlamp bulb....
You sit the parker bulb in the hole..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

spectral Casual Dubber

39 posts · joined Feb 2013 ·

#949238
Ah ha! You are right there is just a small 10mm or so hole there, right next to the main bulb.

Seeing as there is no parker bulb (just a hole as you said), I presume the "spring" of the contact terminals holds it in place? Or is there some little retainer that is supposed to be there that I'm missing

Thanks very much for your help.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#949240
from memory

its just the copper strip that holds the small bulb in place..
once its in the hole it can't go anywhere.. lol

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

RestoKäfer Commited Dubber

63 posts · joined Mar 2012 ·

#949242
Sorry for jumping in but where do you get these little bulbs

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#949244
Probably ONLY off a VW parts shop...

as they are not used in any other cars...

they would have been used in European vehicles 40 years ago.. lol

plus if they are still 6 volt.. ONLY VW Parts shop...

LEE

PS: anyone who has wrecked any early beetles should have lots of those bulbs...
LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

RestoKäfer Commited Dubber

63 posts · joined Mar 2012 ·

#949246
sorry again but 12 v remedy

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#949266
RestoKäfer wrote:Sorry for jumping in but where do you get these little bulbs
Do you need 6 or 12 volt as I have new globes,pm if you want some

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#949267
spectral wrote:Ah ha! You are right there is just a small 10mm or so hole there, right next to the main bulb.

Seeing as there is no parker bulb (just a hole as you said), I presume the "spring" of the contact terminals holds it in place? Or is there some little retainer that is supposed to be there that I'm missing

Thanks very much for your help.
The contact is on the globe retainer,I should have some if you need them.Cheers Les